Chesapeake is poised to hire Interim City Attorney Catherine Lindley for the permanent role.
Chesapeake City Council is expected to vote on Lindley’s appointment at the June 13 meeting. The city confirmed to The Virginian-Pilot Tuesday that an offer had been made to and accepted by Lindley, but a vote on her contract is still needed to make it official.
Lindley began her role as interim in January after the departure of Jacob Stroman, who had been on the job in Chesapeake for about four years. He was hired for the same role in Charlottesville this week.
The Pilot previously reported that Stroman’s departure came on the heels of two legal opinions he rendered months earlier warning Chesapeake council members about alleged violations with a public records request that ultimately lead to a lawsuit still being battled in court.
Lindley was first hired as an assistant city attorney in 2007. It’s not yet known what Lindley’s salary will be, but she’s currently earning about $236,560, according to salary information previously provided to The Pilot.
She obtained degrees from James Madison University and Regent University, according to her LinkedIn profile.
Both Mayor Rick West and Council member Ella Ward told The Pilot that while they can’t speak for all of the council, both feel confident in her leadership, knowledge and competence for the job.
“Because of her legal ability and her leadership and managing skills, and her just having been there, she’s no question the choice for me,” West said, adding he believes she’ll be the choice for the rest of City Council as well.
“She just hit the ground running and we’ve been pleased so far,” Ward said.
In Charlottesville, Stroman will replace Lisa Robertson, who departed in December. The Charlottesville City Council unanimously approved the hire this week after city leaders interviewed five candidates in what Charlottesville City Manager Michael Rogers called a “very competitive process.”
It’s unclear what Stroman’s new salary will be, but he was earning at least $200,000 when he left Chesapeake, according to his former employment agreement with the city.
Stroman also served brief stints in the Virginia attorney general’s office and as a chief staff attorney for the Virginia Supreme Court, according to a resume included in the Charlottesville meeting agenda packet. He also served as county attorney in Spotsylvania, Isle of Wright and Gloucester.
